Tanzania's mining authorities have begun scrutinising the closure plan for Buckreef Gold Mine in Geita Region, seeking to ensure that the eventual shutdown of operations does not leave behind environmental hazards or threaten the safety of surrounding communities.
The review by the National Mine Closure Committee is intended to establish whether the mine has adequate measures for managing the environmental, health and safety risks associated with the end of its operational life.
The process also seeks to ensure that the mine's eventual closure complies with the Mining Act, Cap 123, and the Mining (Safety, Health and Environmental Protection) Regulations, 2010.
Speaking during a meeting in Katoro, committee chairman Engineer Hamisi Kamando said large and medium-scale mining operations were legally required to prepare closure plans and submit them to the Chief Inspector of Mines for technical assessment before approval by the committee.
He said Regulation 206 of the 2010 regulations required mine operators to plan for closure in advance rather than wait until mining activities came to an end.
The requirement is intended to ensure that issues such as site safety, environmental rehabilitation and the protection of communities are addressed before a mine reaches the end of its productive life.
Engineer Kamando stressed that reviewing the plan did not mean the Government intended to close Buckreef Mine before its mineral resources were exhausted.
"The committee's responsibility is to review and assess mine closure plans in advance, ensuring that when a mine reaches the end of its operations, closure is undertaken in a manner that safeguards people's lives and restores the environment to a safe condition," he said.
The early assessment is particularly important in ensuring that mining companies make adequate preparations for their eventual exit, including addressing potential environmental and safety concerns associated with abandoned mining sites.
Buckreef Gold Mine general manager Isaac Busanseba assured the committee that management remained committed to complying with safety, health and environmental protection requirements throughout its operations.
He said the mine would take into account all guidance and recommendations issued by the committee to ensure its closure plan met statutory requirements and prescribed standards.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the Vice-President's Office, the Ministries of Water, Natural Resources and Tourism, and Minerals, the National Land Use Planning Commission, the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), the Mining Commission and officials from Geita Region and District.